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Original poster

To not appreciate Serena using sexism in her arguments against umpire

518 replies

user1471517900 · 09/09/2018 10:07

Sorry if there is a thread, I did scan four pages to check.

Serena gets coached (which her coach admits) but claims she didn't see it. Then smashes a racquet in separate fit of temper. Then tells the umpire she can't be a cheat because she's a mother(!), he will never referee a match again with her, and he's a thief.

The punishments all seem fine to me and I really felt for Osaka having to apologise in her winners speech. Serena should be saying sorry today IMO.

OP posts:
TerfsUp · 09/09/2018 10:41

This reply has been deleted

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glintandglide · 09/09/2018 10:43

www.google.co.uk/amp/www.the42.ie/serena-williams-naomi-osaka-4226468-Sep2018/%3famp=1

Her latest statement. Tbh I think a lot is happening to expose the sexism in tennis at the moment and she’s instrumental in this.

ElizabethG81 · 09/09/2018 10:44

She's been unbearable ever since she became the first woman ever to give birth.

TinyBarista · 09/09/2018 10:44

Sorry OP my turn for the clarification - I was referring to SW and the issues faced in general, rather than specifically vs her opponent.
Recently I've admired how candid she has been about issues she has faced with body image, comparisons with her sister and balancing motherhood with the needs of competitive sports.

TomHardysNextWife · 09/09/2018 10:45

She's got a nasty attitude.

Yes she's had a baby. And she's still carrying a lot of her baby weight - as many of us do, myself included. No shaming meant. She's not in peak physical condition and is nearing the end of her career. That doesn't excuse her from totally hijacking that poor girls win and overshadowing it. That's not sexism, it's a temper tantrum. She should recognise it having a daughter..............

FrangipaniBlue · 09/09/2018 10:45

I imagine on top of the way she was treated over her choice of clothing for the French Open and the treatment of Alize Cornet recently at the US Open that she decided she'd simply had enough.

Women in tennis are treated incredibly unfairly compared to their male counterparts, it's well known, so you can't just take this incident in isolation and decide she's a diva.

PerfectPenquins · 09/09/2018 10:46

She kept on and violated again so she ended up with a game penalty and rightly so. She has no one to blame except herself, she cheated and was caught, tough luck! The despicable crowd booing at the winner was appalling.

Dottierichardson · 09/09/2018 10:46

She has been subjected to the most appalling racism and sexism for years, I'm amazed she's been able to continue under such conditions. I'm with her all the way.

Original poster
user1471517900 · 09/09/2018 10:46

Oh I absolutely love Serena. She is an absolutely amazing woman and sportsperson and truly one of the greats.

But she got this horribly wrong.

OP posts:
TheVanguardSix · 09/09/2018 10:47

I get the feeling (superstar/super athlete status aside) she's really struggling to find that balance between being Serena Williams, the most amazing tennis champ on earth, and being a mother- which has taken her on a journey unlike any other.

She's got a one year old baby.

No comparison to SW but I was always a bit of a shouty, deranged mess when my kids were that age (not with them but because of the lack of sleep, the demands, the wanting to just hone in on my babies while life all around me made its own demands). She's under a hell of a lot of pressure, pressure the average person can't imagine. And when we're tired, pressured, and ranty, we say silly shit.

Being a mother has surpassed being a tennis champion. I think she's struggling to totally own this. She's human. And she's become a mother. It's life-changing and in a ranty, broken kinda way, I think she was declaring this.

Idontbelieveinthemoon · 09/09/2018 10:47

When a woman questions a man's decision she's "lost the plot" and "hysterical".

Serena may have acted in haste and allowed her temper to flare. She may have done better had she reined that fury in just a little.

But she's also solid gold for calling out bullshit when she spots it.

BathshebaKnickerStickers · 09/09/2018 10:48

It was the biggest "but I wanted to win" tantrum that I've seen since my 3rd daughter was 3 and didn't win at Uno....

Nothing to do with racism or sexism

gamerwidow · 09/09/2018 10:48

She's not in peak physical condition and is nearing the end of her career.
Erm she was in the final of a grand slam tournament not knocked out in the first round ffs.

Bejazzled · 09/09/2018 10:49

I've seen men warned and occasionally docked points for swearing or breaking their racquet. I have never seen a top player behave towards an umpire as SW did last night, she was entirely to blame. No excuses.

And as for the ever escalating difficult birth many post op procedures almost died in childbirth im a mommmmm whine I wish she'd give it a rest.

TheVeryHungryDieter · 09/09/2018 10:50

I dare say if I was playing in a grand slam final and thought I'd been unfairly penalised I would be mouthy too, if passions were running high.

Her coach admitted to coaching, but he also said that Serena didn't see him doing it, so she thought she'd been accused of something she hadn't done. And then got two more violations for expressing anger and frustration.

However, while I in no way condone any racquet smashing or McEnroe-like behaviour, this morning I've seen a few news reports of Carlos Ramos heavily penalising players for small infractions in grand slam tournaments, which are routinely not penalised by other umpires, so I think the PP who speculated he might have been on a power trip was on to something.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 09/09/2018 10:51

Completely agree with this: Serena may have acted in haste and allowed her temper to flare. She may have done better had she reined that fury in just a little.

But I also feel really sorry for Osaka, because the story isn't '20 year old wins first grand slam' but 'SW looses plot and grand slam' and I think that's a real shame for her in what should be the greatest couple of days of her life.

butterflysugarbaby · 09/09/2018 10:51

YANBU. I love Serena, and she is a gifted sportswoman, but she let herself down there.

Oysterbabe · 09/09/2018 10:51

She was definitely in the wrong here. The umpire was calm and professional. I'm also fed up of everyone crapping on about the fact that she's had a baby every 5 minutes.

BunnyCarr · 09/09/2018 10:52

She showed herself up to be a bad sport. I felt sorry for her opponent.

Original poster
user1471517900 · 09/09/2018 10:53

I haven't said she was hysterical or anything. I said she went OTT as I would with a male player. And she clearly did.

OP posts:
glintandglide · 09/09/2018 10:53

The baby is very relevant though because she desperately wants to resume her career but it may well be over

Because she had a baby

How can that not be out and out sexism?

TheVanguardSix · 09/09/2018 10:53

She has been subjected to the most appalling racism and sexism for years, I'm amazed she's been able to continue under such conditions. I'm with her all the way.

AND THIS!
Especially (!!!) at the US Open but worldwide, for decades, Serena and her sister Venus have been subjected to abhorrent racism and sexism.

So I am with her all the way on this dispute with the umpire. I think he was an asshole, myself. I think he enjoyed his power trip. I've seen male tennis players behave MUCH worse and heard them say MUCH worse and not been given the decking she was given.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 09/09/2018 10:53

Makes you wonder how many times she has cheated in the past and got away with it.

TinyBarista · 09/09/2018 10:54

But I also feel really sorry for Osaka, because the story isn't '20 year old wins first grand slam' but 'SW looses plot and grand slam' and I think that's a real shame for her in what should be the greatest couple of days of her life.
Yes, I agree with this.

slashlover · 09/09/2018 10:54

McEnroe used to shout and throw his racket about.

Agassi called an umpire a 'son of a bitch' and spat at him. (He was later fined $3000 but nothing happened during the game)

Male players have yelled , sworn, thrown equipment around, and SPIT at umpires and have never been penalised like Serena was. This umpire was previously told by Nadal that he would never umpire one of his matches again, was Nadal penalised? Nope.

It's very similar to how men are forceful and argumentative but women are hysterical and aggressive.